160 



ORTHOLITHA. By L. B. Prout. 



line; spiracles finely black. Feeds on broom and Genista. Pupa dull red-brown, with lighter incisions, 

 cremaster darker. ' Imago in July and August, occurring locally in wooded districts in Central Europe, N. 

 Italy and Transcaucasia. 



ohvallaria. 



0. obvallaria Mah. (6h) is only kno\vn from Corsica, where it occurs locally, and only in the mountains 

 (1500 m) in July and August. It somewhat recalls moeniata in the strong distal projection of the median 

 band, but this projection is in obvallaria distinctly bifid, and the proximal edge of the band contains two 

 strong angles. Basal patch of forewing dark grey, bounded by a dentate black line. 



proximarxa 



0. proximaria Rhr., also from Corsica, is apparently scarce and I have no material before me. The 

 distal edge of the median band shows a smaller projection than in obvallaria, consisting of a square-cut or 

 slightly bifid lobe between the 3''^ radial and 1 ** median, but posterioiiy to this it forms a deep inward curve. 

 The proximal edge of the band (which in narrower than in the two preceding species) is neither straight (as 

 in moeniata) nor biangulate (as in obvallaria) but sinuous. The hindwing shows a distinct median line, following 

 a similar course to that of the postmedian of the forewing. The larva feeds on Genista Corsica and Ulex and 

 was found by Rambur in March, but grows slowly, the moth not appearing till October. It resembles, according 

 to MiLLiERE, the larva of peribolata, and is brown, with a blackish dorsal stripe, which narrows posteriorly on 

 each segment and bears a series of whitish triangular spots (sometimes, however, indistinct) ; ventral surface 

 with two blackish bands and a red-brown medioventral line. Pupa subterranean, dull red, little elongate, 

 conical, pointed, finely wrinkled and dotted. 



peribolata. 0. peribolata Hhh (8a). Forewing light cinerous with the lines and bands fuscous; a thick line 



limiting the basal area is rather straight and oblique; the narrow proximal band of the median area somewhat 

 variable, nearly straight or more sinuous, usually narrowing anteriorly, its broader distal band sometimes ill- 

 defined proximally, distally with a rounded projection in the middle; a small but distinct black discal dot; 

 the pale subterminal line straight, accompanied proximally by a dark shade, which widens anteriorly and joins 

 the oblique dark apical streak. Hindwing shaded with fuscous, indistinctly marked, the postmedian line 

 strongly outcurved in middle, a distinct, rather straight, pale subterminal line often present. Generally not 

 very variable, though some examples show a brighter brownish tinge. Staudinger regards sororiata Dup. as 

 an aberration of peribolata, which is certainly incorrect; Duponchel's figure is puzzling and has been regarded 

 by GuENEE (probably correctly) as an aberrant Carsia paludata, by Milliere as very likely proximaria. — ab- 



coarctata. coarctata ab. nov. is a remarkable form with Avhite ground-colour and much narrowed median area, forming 

 a single brown band 2 — 3 mm in breadth; basal patch weak, apical streak present, the other lines almost or 

 magna, entirely obsolete. Taken by SxAUDrNCER in Andalusia, figured by Milliere (pi. 38, f 7). — magna form, nov., 

 from Algeria, is larger than the type form and (judging by the only example before me) with the proximal 

 edge of the median band more strongly curved (S-shaped), the ground-colour less pale and the subterminal 

 line of the hindwing entirely suppressed. The larva is rather short, carinated laterally, the skin wrinkled, 

 the segment incisions distinct; greyish yellow, sometimes tinged with green, with an interrupted black dorsal 

 stripe, uninterrupted (but sometimes indistinct) subdorsal line and whitish lateral stripe. It feeds on Genista, 

 Ulex and Calycotome spinosa and grows slowly, hatching in the autumn and reaching its full growth at the 

 end of April or beginning of May. Pupa conico-cylindrical, elongate, reddish brown with the wing-cases tinged 

 with green; said by Milliere to be remarkable for lacking the cremastral hooks which characterize the other 

 Geometrid pupa. The moth appears in August and September and is common in parts of France (especially 

 the south), occurring also in Spain and Guernsey and once in Valais. 



dupUcata. 0, duplicata TFrtrr. (12 a) is a very distinct species. Considerably larger than ^erifto^wto (size of Jj^Mwcfona, 



etc). Forewing whitish with dark lines, costal margin from base to postmedian fuscous; basal patch obliquely 

 dark-edged; median band represented by two broad blackish bars from the hindmargin to the subcostal vein, 

 narrowing anteriorly and directed somewhat obliquely distad; distal margin blackish, narrowing to a point at 

 ;ipex and enclosing, from 1^' radial to hinder angle, a straight white subterminal line. Hindwing whitish, 

 with some slight dark markings towards the apex and anal angle. Under surface ochreous sufl'used with 

 siniplificata. reddish, hindwing with a discal dot and postmedian line. — In ab. simplificata Th.-Mieg, described from 

 How-kow, the two black band of the median area are almost entirely united into a single broad triangular 

 band, the white interspace being almost entirely suppressed, duplicata is distributed in the mountains of 

 Tibet and W. China. 



